Quad City Challenger II, G-MZHO

Summary:

Shortly before sunset, the aircraft, owned by the pilot and passenger, returned to their private airstrip for landing in a westerly direction. The pilot reported that at approximately 100 ft agl and only 100 m from the landing threshold, the setting sun so obscured his vision that he was unable to see anything inside or outside the cockpit and he became disorientated. Very shortly afterwards, at approximately 40 ft agl, the left wing of his aircraft struck the topmost branches of a tree. The impact, though slight, caused the aircraft to stall and fall to the ground, where it came to rest inverted. The pilot and passenger were suspended in their harnesses but, using her mobile telephone, the passenger was able to alert a neighbour who assisted them shortly afterwards. The passenger had sustained bruising to her head, body and legs. The pilot, however, had sustained a more serious head injury and, upon the arrival of the emergency services, was taken to hospital by air ambulance.